Secondary electric clock



May 15, 1923. 1,454,954

T. s. CASNER SECONDARY ELECTRIC CLOCK Original Filed Aux; 51, 1920 68 W fare/afar Patented May 15, 1923.

UNITED STATES THADDEUS STEPHENS CASNER, F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNMENTS, T0 GEORGE RAWAK, 0F NEW-YORK, N. Y.

SECONDARY ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Application filed August 31 1920, Serial No. 407,160. Renewed September 21, 1922. Serial No. 589,686.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TIIADDEUS STEPHENS CASNER, a citizen of the United States, re-

sidin at Plainfield, in the county of Union and tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secondary Electric Clocks, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to electrically driven secondary clocks. One object of the invention is to provide a clock of this class of simple construction, having but few parts all of which are of such design that they may be manufactured at small cost and easily assembled together. A particular object of the invention is to provide a secondary clock of very small size which is especially adapted for use in automobiles, small boats, trains, airplanes, or in any vehicle or structure in which but small space is available for the clock installation. Other objectsof the invention are; to provide a secondary clock which is especially resistant to wear caused by unusual vibration, as when it'is mounted in an automobile; which will operate in any position in which it may be placed; and which will not fail to operate properly to give the correct time indications even when subjected to severe jolts and jars. One embodiment of the invention will be disclosed in the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the clock;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the drawingsthe clock mechanism and the supporting frame for the mechanism are alone illustrated the usual casing, dial, and glass being omittedfor the sake of clearness. The stationary and moving parts of the clock are mounted ina single U-shaped frame member 10 having aligned apertures 11 and 12 in the vertical legs thereof, the principal parts, both moving and stationary, being arranged concentrically around the axis of these openings. The electro-magnet is in the formof a solenoid 13 which is mounted upon a plug 14 having a threaded shank 15 extending through the aperture 11 and secured in position by a nut 16. A plate 17 is clamped between the nut 16 and the frame, this plate extending upwardly and being provided with a block of insulatng material 18 to which are secured bindmg screws 19 for the wires which lead from the solenoid to the master clock.

The minute hand shaft is indicated at 20 and this shaft is rotatably supported at its forward end in the hour sleeve 21 mounted n aperture 12 and is rotatably su ported at its rear end in a socket 22 in theface of the plug 14. Slidably mounted upon the shaft 20 is a sleeve 23 having an annular flange 24, and mounted on the forward end of this sleeve is a disk 25 the periphery of which is toothed, having preferably sixty teeth of equal size. Supported on the cylindrical outer surface of the, flange 24 and rigidlyconnected to the disk 25 is the hollow cylindrical armature 26 which is adapted to be drawn into the solenoid 13 when the latter is energized, against the action of the coiled compression spring 27 which surrounds the shaft 20 and bears at one end against the plug 14 and at the other against the flange 24.

The disk 25 and armature 26 rotate together in the operation of the clock and these members are connected to the minute hand shaft through a coupling comprising a plate 28 rotatably mounted on the minute hand shaft, a spring 29 also mounted on the minute hand shaft, and pins 30'which extend with a loose fit through circular openings 31 in the disk 25. The spring 29 exerts a strong pressure on the rear face of the plate 28 and on the small pin 32 extending transversely through the minute hand shaft so that the disk 25 is frictionally bound to rotate with the shaft 20. This arrangement allows the minute hand shaft and hence the hour hand sleeve to be rotated relatively to thedisk 25 for the purpose of initially setting the hands to their correct position. The usual reducing gear, comprising a pinion 33 mounted on the minute hand shaft in advance of the plate 28, rigidly connected gears 34 and 35 mounted'on the short shaft 36, and gear 37 formed integralwith the hour hand sleeve. are provided for effecting the twelve to. one speed reduction between the minute hand shaft and the hour sleeve.

In the operation of the device the solenoid is adapted to be energized at equal intervals of time, for instance, at intervals of one minute, as determined by the master clock with which it is in circuit. At each energizat-ion of the solenoid it attracts the armature 26 which promptly enters the central opening of the solenoid, moving against the action of the coiled spring 27 and carrying with it the toothed disk 25. To absorb any shock of impact resulting from this movement annular felt disks 38 and 38 are provided, the former being interposed between the disk 25 and the end of the solenoid and the latter being interposed between the armature 26 and the plug 14. These felt disks absorb the shock of impact and prevent noise. When the solenoid is deenergized the spring 27 immediately acts to return the disk 25 and the armature 26 to the position in which they-are shown in Figure 1.

The means for giving the disk 25 a rotatory movement as it oscillates and locking it in position after such movement is completed, comprises a stationary cam member 39 fixed to the bottom of the frame its cam surface being inclined to the axis of shaft 20, and a locking member 40 substantially parallel to said axis, pivotally connected to the frame at one end and having its other end pointed, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, a spring 41 normally tending to press the pointed end of this locking member against the cam surface of the cam member 39. When the disk 25 is in the position illustrated in Figure 1, two adjacent teeth 42 and 43 thereof are on opposite sides of the locking member 40. as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. As the disk is moved rearwardly or toward the right upon the energization of the solenoid, Figures 1 and 3, the tooth 42 will.contac't with the cam surface of cam member 35) and move along this cam surface, pushing aside the free end of the locking member.40. which is immediately returned to original position by spring 41. At the rearward limit of travel of disk 25 tooth 42 has reached the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. Immediately upon the deenergization of the solenoid the disk 25 is moved forward by the spring and tooth 42 rides along the opposite s de of the locking member 40 which is slightly inclined, as illustrated in Figure 3. and when it again reaches its forward limit of travel occupies the position formerly occupied by the tooth 43. In this manner the disk 25 is rotatively advanced one tooth each time the magnet is energized and deenergized and. if the disk has sixty teeth and the solenoid is energized once every minute. it is obvious that the minute hand will rotate through a complete revolution once an hour. The hour hand will, of course, move only one-twelfth as fast because of the reducing gearing.

For the purpose of locking the disk 25 after each movement a flat spring 45 is provided, this spring being secured to the frame and having its free end engaging the toothed periphery of the disk, as illustrated in Figure 2. This spring not only insures against accidental rotation of the disk in the wrong direction due to shock or jar, but also prevents the teeth of the disk from accidentally striking the end of cam member 39 as the disk moves from left to right, (Figure 3).

The novel arrangement of the component parts of the clock, with the electro-magnet in solenoid form and the hand shafts and the principal rotating parts all mounted concentrically about a single horizontal axis enables the clock to be made of small size, in fact considerably smaller than the clock illustrated in the drawings. The parts are of simple construction and may be easily manufactured and quickly assembled or repaired. The operation of the clock is such that it will continue to work notwithstanding the position in which it may be placed inasmuch as the movement of no part is dependentupon the influence of gravity and the movement is such that no jarring or vibration to which the clock may be subjected can interfere with its functioning or accuracy.

Obviously changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts of the invention which is therefore not limited in its scope to the exact embodiment disclosed.

@ Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. In a secondary clock. in combination, a frame, a disk member and a cam member mounted in said frame for relative rotation about the axis of the disk and relative linear movement parallel to the axis of the disk. and means for effecting axial movement of said disk member relatively to said cam. whereby they are brought into engagement and relative rotation produced, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a secondary clock, in combination, a frame. a cam member fixed to said frame and a disk member mounted in said frame .for rotation about its axis and linear movement along its axis. and means for effecting axial movement of said disk member relatively to said cam whereby they are brought into engagement and relative rotation produced. for the purpose set forth.

3. In a secondary clock, in combination, a frame. a disk member and a cam member mounted in said frame for relative rotation about the axis of the disk and relative linear movement parallel to the axis of the disk. and an electro-magnet for moving said disk axially relatively to said cam, whereby said cam and disk are brought into engagement and relative rotation produced,

and a spring for returning said disk upon deenergization of said magnet, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a secondary clock, in combination, a frame, a disk member and a cam member mounted in said frame for relative rotation about the axis of the diskand relative linear about the axis of the disk and relative linear movement parallel to the axis of the disk, means for effecting axial movement of said disk member relatively to said cam member whereby they are brought into engagement and relative rotation produced, and means for locking the disk against accidental rotation.

6. In a secondary clock, in combination, a frame, a disk member and a cam member mounted in said frame for relative rotation about the axis of the diskand relative linear movement parallel to the axis of the disk, means for effecting axial movement of said disk member relatively to said cam member whereby they are brought into engagement and relative rotation produced, and means for locking the disk against accidental rotation said means comprising a pivoted member disposed with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the disk and having its free end spring pressed against the cam surface of said cam member.,

7. In a secondary clock in combination, a frame, a disk member and a cam member mounted in said frame for relative rotation about the axis of the disk and relative linear movement parallel to the axis of the disk, means for effecting axial movement of said disk member relatively to said cam member whereby they are brought into engagement and relative rotation produced, and means for locking the disk against accidental rotation said means comprising a tapered member pivotally secured to the frame and disposed with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the disk and a spring normally pressing the pointed free end of said member against the cam surface of the oam member.

8. In a secondary electric clock, in combination, an electro-magnet, an armature, and hour and minute hand shafts, all of said members being concentrically disposed about a single axis, and the armature being movable along said axis and gearing operatively connecting said armature and hand shafts.

9. In a secondary electric clock, in combination, a solenoid, an armature therefor and hour and minute hand shafts, all of said members being concentrically disposed about a single axis, and gearing operatively connecting said armature and hand shafts.

10. In a secondary electric clock, in combination, an electro-magnet, hour and minute hand shafts, and an armature slidably mounted on one of said shafts, all of said members being concentrically disposed about a single axis, and gearing operatively connecting said armature and hand shafts.

11. In an electrically driven (secondary clock, in combination, a substantially U- shaped frame having aligned apertures in the legs thereof, an electro-magnet, an armature, and hour and minute hand shafts, all concentrically mounted about the axis of said aligned apertures, and means operatively connecting the armature and said shafts.

12. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination, a frame having two aligned apertures, a member supported in one of said apertures and carrying an electro-magnet hour and minute hands supported in the other of said apertures, and an armature, the electro-magnet, shafts, and armature being concentrically arranged about the axis of the aligned apertures,and means operatively connecting the armature and said shaft.

13. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination, a frame-having two aligned apertures, a plug mounted in one of said apertures and carrying a solenoid, a

hand shaft rotatably supported ,in the other i of said apertures, and having its inner end rotatably supported on said plug, an armature slidably mounted on said. hand shaft and means operatively connecting said armature and shaft.

14. In an electrically driven secondary clock, in combination, a frame having two aligned apertures, a plug mounted in one of said apertures and carrying a solenoid, concentric hour and minute hand shafts rotatably supported in the other of said apertures one of said shafts having its inner end rotatably supported by said plug, an armature slidably mounted on said minute hand shaft and carrying a disk and means operatively connecting said disk and minute hand shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THADDEUS STEPHENS CASHIER. 

